ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES:

Industry Environmental Support

MARAD assists the U.S. maritime industry (ports, vessel operators, shipyards, and ship scrappers/recyclers) with its efforts to comply with environmental laws and regulations. This activity includes establishing and maintaining working relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies and industry organizations to foster the development of economically and environmentally sound regulatory policies and practices. For example, the Agency cooperates with other government agencies, particularly the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, Navy, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and with other organizations, such as the Chamber of Shipping of America, the American Association of Port Authorities, and the Shipyard Environmental Forum, in: (1) outreach workshops focusing on environmental compliance, (2) applied research and development projects to assist industry environmental protection efforts; and (3) development of regulatory compliance documentation and environmental protection reports.

For further information, you can contact MARAD's Office of Environmental Activities (telephone: 202-366-8888 or fax: 202-366-6988).

Marine Air Emissions

Due to their proximity to high population centers and sensitive environmental habitats, port operations and related coastal and inland vessel movements affect local air quality. MARAD supports research and other efforts to control air pollution from vessels, particularly the development and demonstration of appropriate technologies aboard vessels to accelerate the use of economical, low air polluting marine power plants. The Agency engages in public/private partnerships related to the development and deployment of clean engine, clean fuel, and fuel cell technologies for shipboard and port applications.

Click here to go to Maritime Enegy and Clean Emissions Program

For further information, you can contact MARAD's Office of Environmental Activities (telephone: 202-366-8888 or fax: 202-366-6988).

Ballast Water Management

MARAD assists the maritime industry with its efforts to comply with requirements to manage ballast water and sediments in such a way as to prevent the introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species into U.S. waters via the discharge of foreign water from ships’ ballast tanks. The Agency is a member of the Ballast Water and Shipping Committee of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and the working group for the development of ballast water treatment standards. Furthermore, MARAD works with other federal agencies and the maritime industry to support a ballast water treatment technology test and demonstration program.

For further information, you can contact MARAD's Office of Environmental Activities (telephone: 202-366-8888 or fax: 202-366-6988).